What an embarrassing moment! I was recognizing some people and I forgot one person’s name and as much as I tried to sort through possibilities, I could not remember the name, so I had to admit defeat and ask for the name. Have you ever had a “brain fog” moment of forgetfulness? We all have, but have you ever thought about things that you might have forgotten when it comes to serving God?
Proverbs 3:1 (ESV) — 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
That’s pretty clear! Do not forget God’s teaching or sometimes referenced as God’s law. Have you ever forgotten His teaching? God is very clear in His word about the disappointment He has when people whom He has blessed and who have declared their allegiance to Him forget about what He clearly teaches in His word.
Deuteronomy 8:19 (ESV) — 19 And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.
The Bible is clear that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works of the law, however we must also never forget that God’s law is a statement of His holiness and He has commanded us to be holy as He is holy.
Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 Peter 1:14–16 (ESV) — 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
The Christian should desire to know and follow God’s commandments simply because they are His commandments and like God are holy, just, and good.
Romans 7:12 (ESV) — 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Why is it easy to forget His commandments or His teaching? Like anything that we want to remember, we have to keep reminding ourselves. The same is true for God’s teaching and His law. If we want to make sure we keep His word, then we have to know His word and keep reminding ourselves of the content of the word of God. Consider the excellent advice from Psalm 119 in which the psalmist states how he feels about God’s commands while reminding Himself to make sure he does not forget:
Psalm 119:16 (ESV) — 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Psalm 119:83 (ESV) — 83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
Psalm 119:93 (ESV) — 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.
Psalm 119:109 (ESV) — 109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.
Psalm 119:141 (ESV) — 141 I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.
Psalm 119:153 (ESV) — 153 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
Psalm 119:176 (ESV) — 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
That is excellent counsel. It takes discipline, but what good thing in life does not take discipline? The good thing about discipline is that when you focus on discipline in one area of life, it spills-over in bringing good to other areas of life through discipline. The discipline is to consider God’s word a treasure and as a treasure you look into the word of God for the daily treasures as you prepare to hear the preaching of God’s word to glean more treasure. Getting a grip on God’s word involves reading, studying, memorizing, meditation upon the word and, of course, application of the word.
James 1:21–27 (ESV) — 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Consider Jesus’ admonishment:
John 5:39 (ESV) — 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
Consider the commendation of the Bereans:
Acts 17:10–11 (ESV) — 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
God has given to all of His elect a hunger and thirst for His word and a desire to do whatever His word tells them to do. Too often, Christians are content with fast food rather than a meal with meat and other delights. If you want to grow in anything, it takes discipline. If you want to make sure you do not forget God’s teaching but grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, then it takes discipline. The joy through the discipline is the presence of God as the Holy Spirit gives enlightenment, understanding, and grace to apply. Just don’t let the good things slip through your mind from a lack of applying yourself so you do not forget.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
